Friday, March 27, 2020

Family on a Train

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:   How are you handling time? To me, time now all runs together, things move faster than usual, or soooo muuuuch slooower….I have no idea what day it is half the time, either.
But I did just turn in a short story that takes place entirely on an overnight train trip from Chicago to Boston. And yes, I really did this once (without the drama that occurs in the short story) and it took 23 hours. It was kinda glorious.  Once.
And  today--dispatches from abroad. To make sure we remember there’s a whole world involved in  our lives. The wonderful Jennifer Alderson is remembering trains too…and and how her son’s love of trains determined her novel’s setting.
And now, let Jennifer take us..away.

Serendipitous Travel

Researching locations is one of my favorite parts of writing. Since most of us won’t be traveling abroad anytime soon, I want to share a bit about a research trip to Bavaria I took last summer, and more specifically, how my son’s love of trains ultimately determined one of the main settings in my novel.




My soon-to-be-published novel, The Vermeer Deception, is an art history mystery about WWII-looted art that is set in Bavaria, Germany. When I told my Dutch husband that I was thinking about visiting Munich to research a few locations for my next book, I was shocked to learn that he had never been! From our home in Amsterdam, it is only a ten-hour trip by car. Since summer was fast approaching, we decided to turn my research trip into a week-long family vacation.




My eight-year-old son is obsessed with public transportation of all kinds – as most boys his age are! When we were researching places to visit along our route, he saw photos of Heidelberg’s mountain railway (the Bergbahn) and his choice was made. We added Heidelberg to our list of places to visit without really looking at what the city had to offer, and moved on.
I had already written the final chapters of the book, but wasn’t certain where the scenes should take place. During the drive to Munich, we explored several villages, castles, and cities along our route. Three we stopped at specifically because I thought they would be the perfect location for my novel’s climactic ending. It’s a good thing we did visit them because I was completely wrong!
Nassau was too spread out, Frankfurt too busy, and Walldorf too flat. On our drive home, I was beginning to feel like Goldilocks. None of the locations really worked as setting for the dramatic ending I had originally envisioned, so I resigned myself to rewriting it.


Heidelberg was our last stop before returning to Amsterdam. It is a beautiful, old university town located along the Nektar River and surrounded by thick, green forests. We spent a wonderful day exploring the Altstadt (old town) and riding the Bergbahn – definitely the highlight of the trip for my son!


For those who have not seen one, it is a railway that uses a system of cables and rack-and-pinion technology to pull the train cars straight up the mountain.



The Heidelberg railway is 1.5 kilometers long, making it the longest of its kind in Germany. It takes you from the heart of Altstadt, to the beautiful Heidelberg Castle, then up to the top of the Königstuhl – a small mountain the city is built into. On the way up, we had gorgeous views of the valley, river, castle, and town below. And from the top, it felt as if you could see all of Bavaria. It was truly breathtaking!




Best of all, I found the ideal location for the final scenes of my novel. The old city, castle, and even the Bergbahn play crucial roles in the last chapters of The Vermeer Deception.
Thanks to serendipity – or my son, depending on how you want to interpret these events – I found the perfect location for my mystery’s exciting conclusion, my husband got to see Munich, and my son was able to experience the thrill of climbing the Königstuhl by railway. It was a win-win for all of us.
I do hope readers enjoy traveling to Bavaria with me while reading The Vermeer Deception!

What about you, Reds and Readers? Do you have a fun, silly, or serendipitous travel experience to share?

HANK: And how do you feel about trains?
And doesn't this book have everything? 
What is the element that fascinates you the most?
 I wish I could win it... but YOU can!
Comment below to be entered to win 1 of 2 digital ARC copies of The Vermeer Deception! The international giveaway ends on Friday, April 3.  




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. Her love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning mystery series—the Zelda Richardson Mysteries and Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries—and standalone stories.
After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before settling in the Netherlands. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.


An art historian finds – then loses – a portrait by Johannes Vermeer in this thrilling art mystery set in Munich, Heidelberg, and Amsterdam.
When Zelda Richardson investigates a new lead about a missing portrait by Johannes Vermeer, no one expects her to actually find the painting in a retired art dealer’s home in Munich, Germany. Not her parents visiting from America; her boss, private detective Vincent de Graaf; or the rightful owner of the Nazi-looted artwork.
However, Zelda’s jubilation turns to horror when she arrives to pick up the portrait and finds the art dealer dead and several frames smoldering in his fireplace.
Was the Vermeer a fake and its ‘discovery’ a cruel joke played on a Nazi victim? The Munich police, Zelda’s family, and Vincent certainly think so.
Yet the art dealer’s best friend believes he was murdered and the real Vermeer stolen by an underground network of art looters, one established during World War II and still active today. The problem is, no one believes him – except Zelda.
Zelda soon finds herself in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with immoral art collectors, corrupt dealers, and an all-to-real killer who wants her to stop searching.
Can Zelda uncover the truth about the Vermeer before she is painted out of the picture permanently?
The Vermeer Deception is Book 4 in the Zelda Richardson Mystery Series. The novels in this series can be read in any order.

Available as eBook and paperback at all fine retailers on April 4, 2020. You can preorder the eBook now on Amazon: http://getbook.at/TheVermeerDeception

103 comments:

  1. How wonderful that our son's pick turned out to work so well for you. Congrats on the book, it certainly sounds like lots of fun. And I'd love to visit Bavaria, in real life and your book.

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    1. Yes, the idea of being able to travel is so poignant now... But this terrific story and take us away for a little while…

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    2. Thanks Mark, my son is an inspiration - in many ways! Thank you! It was a fun one to research and write. I hope you make it to Bavaria soon - either by book or in real-life. Take care!

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  2. What a sweet story, Jennifer. I love that your son’s desire to see the train helped you find the right setting for your story.
    Congratulations on your new book . . . the story sounds quite intriguing; I’m looking forward to finding out how Zelda makes out in her hunt for the Vermeer . . . .

    When I was in college, I used to ride the train between Long Island and New York City, and, before that, when I was a child I remember riding the train with my mom. I always enjoyed the train rides, especially when I was a child, but I haven’t been on a train in years . . . .

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    1. Yes, I love the train! It is so civilized, and so peaceful… I’ve taken the Acela between Boston and New York so many times. I learn to sit on the left side of the train going to New York so I could see the ocean.

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    2. Thank you, Joan! I used to only ride them when commuting, but now we take the train primarily for pleasure! (Not lately, of course!!) I bet the ride into New York is spectacular. I'll have to add that my bucket list!

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  3. Welcome to Jungle Reds, Jennifer! Was it serependity that your son's interest in trains led to your novel, Vermeer Deception? I look forward to reading a print copy of the novel. I love travelling by trains. Not much opportunity in the USA, though it seems there are more trains on the East Coast than on the West Coast. I remember taking a train through Germany on my way to Scandinavia from Italy. We changed trains in a town in Germany.

    Have several train stories, mainly in Britain. I once met a lady on the train who looked like Anne Boleyn! Another time I was on a train from London to Oxford and happened to ask an English couple if they see the Royal Family. They said they do not pay attention to famous people because they are Quakers. I was surprised that they have Quakers in Britain. Another time I was on the train enroute to Scotland. I was talking to an English person and she said she had never been to Scotland!

    Hank, a train from Chicago to Boston story? Sounds like a story I want to read too. I once took a round trip train from Washington, DC to Boston.

    Diana

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    1. Yes, I have taken that Washington DC to Boston trip, too! In a sleeper car! Quite the experience…

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    2. What lovely travel stories, Diana! You never know who you'll meet on a train. Sounds like you've met many fascinating people along the way!

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    3. Hank, I had forgotten about the sleeper. I remember taking the train in the daytime from DC to Boston and back to DC.

      Jennifer, we got to meet lots of fascinating people on the train. I was thinking about that novel about the Queen taking the train. It's wonderful to see the landscape of the country from the train. I remember crossing into Scotland from England on the train and I saw the land where some of my Scottish ancestors lived.

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  4. I must read this! I first heard of Vermeer when I was about eleven and read a mystery book that had something to do with a Vermeer painting.
    I think train travel is wonderful but there is very little of that in my neck of the woods. My last train trip was a couple of hours long in India as part of our tour. Prior to that my husband and I rode the rails from Glasgow to Ft William and then Inverness to Edinburgh.

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    1. Oh, hours on the train in India… What an experience! Tell us more !

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    2. Wow, that's a wonderful way to learn about Vermeer!
      We tend to travel by train mostly on vacation, as well. It's a great way of adding to the experience, that's for sure. I've been to Inverness and Edinburgh, but didn't travel by train. That would have been great. And India must have been exhilarating by train. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I rode the train across Canada four times in my youth (Montreal to Vancouver and vice versa). Three days and nights in a seat (couldn't afford a sleeper car)! Glorious scenery, unexpected romance, the occasional annoying drunk, and a five-minute shower at a station half way through the trip.

    I've been to Heidelberg! Not up the mountain, alas -- but the food was great and the river was gorgeous by night.

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    1. Oh, Barbara that is so memorable! It must have been glorious… Except for the drunk guy.

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    2. What a great experience - well, as Hank said, except for the drunk guy! Canada is so gorgeous. And big! You're a trooper to have done it in one go!
      Ooh, we didn't see Heidelberg at night, but I can imagine it's incredible.

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  6. Jennifer, you had me at Vermeer. When my husband was stationed at the Pentagon some years ago, my favorite place to visit in D.C. Was The National Gallery of Art, and Vermeer was my favorite artist there. I would stand in amazement at his paintings every time I saw them. And, I always love trains included in a story. Add the WWII connection and a murder mystery, and you have created an irresistible story for me. I can't wait to read The Vermeer Deception.

    I do love trains. There's something romantic and mysterious about them that captures my enthusiasm. I've only taken one longish train trip, from St. Louis to Kansas City. It was in the fall when the leaves were at their most glorious, and we sat in the business class for extra comfort so we would get the most out of the trip. That was for a wedding anniversary. Another anniversary we did a dinner train, with the old-time fittings and linen tablecloths. Loved it. And, I took the train from Williamsburg, VA to D.C., which allowed me to arrive in Union Station, another one of my favorite D.C. places. So short, but wonderful trips.

    I think it's lovely that you will always have the special connection to your book of your son choosing the train adventure.

    And, Hank, I can't wait to read your short story that takes place on the train.

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    1. Yes, those beautiful dining car as they used to have… They are much more diners like now :-) but I remember that too, with table cloths and little silver salt shakers.

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    2. Beautiful dining car and elaborate service are great. I remember taking the train from Berlin to Madrid with my uncle, aunt and young cousin. We had a 5-course meal that was deliciously memorable. I mean, who expects to eat seafood paella (which takes over an hour to prepare once ordered)?

      My Ottawa-Montreal train trips in business class (for work) were nice since you got a 3-course meal with your ticket but if you're travelling economy class, then it's like eating airplane meals and snacks.

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    3. I'm jealous, Kathy! What a wonderful experience to be in DC for so long and be able to visit the National Gallery so often! It took four books to figure out how to work a Vermeer into the mystery. He is a favorite painter of mine, as well, so it a joy to research the how's and why's.

      Your train travels sound like fabulous rides! The dinner train sounds pretty romantic, as well. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Trains are a lot of fun. I remember using both the BritRail and Eurail passes to crisscross UK and Europe when I first travelled to Europe on my own in the 1980s. Such a wide range of range from modern express trains to old 2-car wooden trains that had a door you had to open yourself by sticking your hand out the window and grabbing the outside handle. And I always remember taking my first train ride from Calais to Dover via the Chunnel instead of travelling from France to England by ferry.

    In Canada, I take the train from Ottawa to Montreal or Ottawa to Toronto at least twice a year since they are economical and take you straight to the heart of downtown.

    I have been to Bavaria, but not Heidelberg. And the Bergbahn sounds like a cool ride. No wonder your son loved it.

    And I enjoyed reading Marked for Revenge (Zelda book #3) and am looking forward to reading The Vermeer Deception.

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    1. The Chunnel! What was that like? I have an imaginary thought of when you go under all that water… That’s a little intimidating. Do you remember it?

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    2. You don't really notice that you are underwater, Hank. It's just a long and dark ride and a bit claustrophobic. Frankly, I preferred the more scenic ferry ride and seeing the White Cliffs of Dover as you approach England, but I'm old fashioned that way.

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    3. Thank you, Grace! So glad you to see you enjoyed Marked for Revenge.
      I love how diverse your train experiences have been. The wooden one must have been a shocker! It's such a relaxed way of traveling, especially when riding through pretty countrysides and forests.
      I've not dared to ride the Chunnel yet as I'm super claustrophobic! I'll stick with the white cliffs of Dover for that journey.
      Thanks for sharing your travel stories with us!

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    4. Yes, the ancient wooden train was definitely memorable. Thank goodness I saw how another man opened the door because I was the sole person getting off at a tiny station in Wales and would have been still stuck inside! I have also had nice train trips for work in Switzerland (Zurich to Davos) and Japan. These two countries sure know a thing about punctuality...sadly Canadian trains are not as reliable.

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    5. The best part about the Chunnel, apart from the speed, is the convenience. Get on at the station in London, and arrive a couple hours later at Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. It's brilliant.

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    6. Grace, what an amazing experience traveling by Chunnel. We took the ferry from England to Norway. By the time we travelled from England to France, they had the Eurotrain running from London to Paris for several years. The train travel between Ottawa and Toronto is now on my bucket list!

      Diana

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  8. Congratulations on your new release! Trains and Vermeer are an irresistible combination. I loved taking the Chunnel train between London and Paris.

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    1. Another Chunnel passenger! Tell us about it!

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    2. very ho-hum. We were under water about 20 minutes. The most exciting part was, on the way back to London, I had to explain to the French soldier running security why I had two omelet pans and whisks in my suitcase. He finally understood my reasoning: when in Paris, buy kitchen equipment. We also bought some knives, but mailed them from a post office.

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    3. That's hilarious! I never thought about buying the fantastic kitchen equipment to take home. Sounds like you made the right decision about the knives!

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  9. I love trains and I've seen pictures of Heidelberg. Breathtaking.

    I'm not sure it counts as serendipity, but I picked the location of my Laurel Highlands mysteries based on a retreat with my SinC chapter. I fell in love with the area.

    And Hank, I never know what day of the week it is.

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    1. Of course it counts as serendipity! Wonderful!

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    2. That's really cool! It definitely counts. Thanks for stopping by, Liz!

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  10. Vermeer is one of my favorite artists--and I'm looking forward to meeting Zelda. Heidelberg looks like a place I would enjoy visiting--so, like Mark, a vicarious trip via The Vermeer Deception would be great.

    Love trains, the longer the trip, the better!

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    1. Exactly! And they are such wonderful places to read and write…

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    2. He's one of my favorites, too! Thank you for your kind words. I hope you enjoy your visit to Bavaria - whether by book or (someday) in real life.
      Trains are a pretty relaxed way of traveling. Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Thanks Mark, my son is an inspiration - in many ways! Thank you! It was a fun one to research and write. I hope you make it to Bavaria soon - either by book or in real-life. Take care!

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    1. Thank you for being with us here today, Jennifer! There will be lots more for you to comment on, so I hope your time zone and situation allows you to come back! Take care!

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    2. Oops, sorry, I replied in the wrong place! Thank you so much, Hank! Really kind of you to invite me over. What a wonderful group of Reds and Readers you have here! It's fun and stimulating to read about all these great adventures.

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  12. Because of your post Jennifer, I fell in love with Bavaria. Your son's passion for trains helping you with the end of the story intrigues me. I'll have read what happened.
    I love trains. While visiting UK and France, train's passes were useful for traveling between cities.
    Even here, when I want to go to Quebec City during the winter I prefer the train to the car for safety.

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    1. Aw, that's so sweet! I hope you get to visit one day.
      What a great way to see more of a country than only the biggest cities. Winters in Quebec are pretty harsh, if I remember correctly. Sounds like a smart move to use the train - and a great way to see more of Canada!

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  13. As an art history enthusiast (Vermeer!) and train lover,your book sounds right up my alley. We took a cogwheel railway ride in Switzerland -- the Jungfrau Railway, a 1,000 mm metre gauge rack railway running 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch. It was slow, vertical, and breathtaking. Travel! Sigh...

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    1. Oooh, the Jungfrau is now on our travel list - that sounds incredible! And I'm always glad to meet another art enthusiast. There is something magical about Vermeer. Oh, I can't wait for the museums to open again!!
      I truly hope we're able to explore the world again quite soon. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Travel through reading is almost as good as regular travel. Especially when intrigue and mystery is involved. How have I missed this series before now?

    My dad worked as a railroad telegrapher in the 50's, and I remember traveling by sleeper car from Cincinnati's Union Terminal to visit family in Boston and Philadelphia. I was quite small, maybe a little older than three, and slept in one bunk with my mother, and my dad slept in the other one. That's all I can recall, except for standing in the immense station at one end of the other, the largest room I was in for many years.

    Four years ago I took trains from Venice to Florence, to Innsbruck, where I took the Hungerburgbahn funicular/tram across the Inn River and up the mountain to the Alpenzoo. The tram and the Alpenzoo and ski lift stations were all designed by Zaha Hadid, and they are amazing. The ticket includes admission to the zoo, which is the only themed zoo of its kind, featuring alpine animals native to the region.

    The reason I wanted to take the train was to travel through the Brenner Pass between Italy and Austria. My maiden name is Brenner, and it had been a lifelong dream to see the area. It was worth the wait!

    I think the best train ride I've ever taken was from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu. It's only a couple of hours long, but the ride is luxurious, with lovely cabin service and leather interiors. A spectacular Blue Morpho butterfly got trapped in our car with us on the way there, and provided entertainment as it fluttered to and fro. The scenery is pretty amazing, too, along the Urubumba River Valley.

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    1. The train ride from Aguas Calientes to go to Machu Picchu is still on my bucket list, Karen. I originally hoped to do the Inca Trail hike, but now 2.5 years after my broken ankle, I don't think I will get physically fit enough to do the trek.

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    2. A railroad telegrapher! That is so instantly fascinating… What did he do, exactly?

      And oh, the Machu Picchu trip, amazing. Lucky Lucky you!

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    3. Wow, you've been on several epic journeys! I'd never heard of the Machu Picchu trip; that sounds extraordinary. The butterflies are amazing and so big!
      I'm adding the Alpenzoo to our travel list. I've never heard of a zoo at the top of a mountain before! That's wonderful!
      My family and I love Italy and have taken the train from Venice to Florence before. It's such a lovely ride and the landscape is so pretty. Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with us!

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    4. Grace, it's not necessary to do the trek. They have buses that go up from Aguas Calientes, and it's a fairly easy walk around the ruins, with some steps. It's a little more difficult to climb the 1,000 feet to the Sun Gate, and way, way more difficult to climb Huena Picchu across the valley.

      Jennifer, the Alpenzoo is halfway up the mountain, and sort of built into the side of it. It's a pretty amazing place, with spectacular views from many vantage points. When I was there they were doing a lot of work to it, and I'd love to go again and see what improvements they've made. Also, your ticket allows you to continue the funicular ride all the way to the top, where the ski lifts begin. I didn't realize this until it was too late to do it, but others had and said it was an incredible view from up top. That is also where the famous Zaha Hadid terminal is.

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    5. Hank, my dad would either sit in the station and intercept telegraphs, or he would be the telegrapher on the train communicating with the station. No cell phones in those days, and that was the only way to let the station master know what was happening en route.

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    6. I know it is not necessary to do the Inca Trail trek to see Machu Picchu, but it was a nice challenge to aim for. Two members of my Ottawa walking group did the 4-day hike in their 60s and their photos of the trip were amazing. I can walk far (18-20 miles/day) but less well in uneven terrain (like O'ahu last year) and the altitude sickness would probably affect my stamina/endurance. A girl can still dream of doing the trek...

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  15. The book sounds delicious, Jennifer! I love art history and art mysteries and the whole Vermeer/Nazi connection sounds completely plausible when you figure in the historical facts about Goring and van Meegeren.

    I have often thought about a cross-country train ride, but never done it. I'll put it on my bucket list. I like driving, though, and have found wonderful places to stop along the way. It will be nice when I can get out and start seeing new things again once this crisis is over.

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    1. That is what is keeping all of us going, exactly, dear Gigi!

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    2. Thank you, Gigi! This was such an interesting book to research and I was lucky enough to visit the Rijksmuseum's library (oh, their lovely Vermeers!) while writing this. So much has been written about WWII and looted art, yet once you delve in, plenty of untold stories bubble to the surface.
      And I'm with you - it will be great to go exploring again once we've made it through this. A cross-country train ride, with plenty of day trips along the way sounds pretty fabulous. Take care!

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  16. Thank you, Hank, for inviting me over!! I'm really overwhelmed by all the wonderful responses and will definitely keep popping by. It's so great to read about all of these fabulous adventures.

    And I'm looking forward to reading your short story, Hank! What a great setting for a mystery! Take care, everyone. Jennifer S. Alderson (for some reason appearing as JSA 😄)

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    1. Thank you! I was quite happy with the idea for it… And it came from a real life story. Can’t wait to talk about it! And we are so thrilled to have you here today, as you can see!

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  17. This book sounds wonderful! I am looking forward to reading it.

    A few years ago my husband and I decided to vacation in Toronto, which we had done a few times before. But on this occasion, we drove to Windsor and took the train from there. As an experiment, we bought coach tickets one way and first class the other, just to see how much of a difference there really was. The upgrade to first class (or whatever they call it on the trains) was definitely worth it!

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    1. What a great idea! I'm with Hank, I'd love to know the differences.

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    2. First of all, I apologize for not seeing this yesterday. Second, I have now talked with my husband and we can't really remember too vividly WHAT the differences were, except much like first class on an airplane -- roomier seats, meal service, and I think even beverage service. Whereas coach was a lot more like taking a Greyhound bus -- you got a seat and you got off at your destination.

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  18. Hi Jennifer it's good to meet you. I was unaware of your books but am very interested and have added them to my TBR list.
    I visited Heidelberg last year and agree the city is amazing so I eagerly await THE VERMEER DECEPTION. Travel and serendipity are passions, too.

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    1. Hi, Emily! So great to see you here! Were you in Heidelberg for vacation? What did you love the most?

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    2. Hank, I was on a Viking River Cruise and one of the stops was Heidelberg. We had THE most delightful tour guide who brought every detail alive. We visited the Castle then had free time to wander about on our own. My husband and I sat in one of the old town squares eating and watching people--what a lovely memory!

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    3. Thank you, Emily! Heidelberg is such a delightful town! It sounds like you and your husband had a wonderful time. I had no idea cruises stopped there, too! The castle was pretty extraordinary, as well. The freestanding wall still erect with all of the statues still in it was quite unique. Thanks for sharing!

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  19. The first time I rode on a train, I had terrible motion sickness, so it was not a fun time for me. Several years later when I was on a student tour of Europe, most of our transportation was on trains, and blessedly, no train sickness for me. I loved all the train travel we did, and it was especially nice when we had our own compartments.

    The Nazi looting of art during World War II makes me so angry and so sad. Thank goodness for people like the Monuments Men who worked during the war to recover the artwork, and for people today who are still trying to find missing works of art. I'm looking forward to reading The Vermeer Deception and enjoyed learning about how it all came together on your trip to Bavaria.

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    1. Oh, poor thing! So pleased you got over the train sickness… It is a wonderful way of travel! Xxx

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    2. I'm glad to hear your experience with trains has improved! It is a great way of seeing Europe, that's for sure.

      I totally understand your anger and sadness! The research was pretty difficult emotionally, simply because there are so many tragic stories that have not yet been shared with a wide audience. Luckily, the archives are filled with untold stories of bravery and those who did all they could to help. Both were crucial to my book. And yes, The Monuments Men are a real inspiration!

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  20. Love the premise of this book! I’ve long been fascinated by trains. As I child I used to ride the train with my grandmother when we visited her cousin. In hindsight I’m amazed that she hauled me and two of my cousins with her on a very non-luxury train when we were all under 10! I remember it as great fun, but now I wonder if she thought so.

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    1. Oh interesting to look at it from that perspective now, right? You were all having a jolly old time, and she was probably herding cats. xxxxx

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    2. Thanks! How lovely to have those memories with your grandmother.

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  21. Jennifer, your new book sounds intriguing. It's so interesting how many movies and authors have addressed the looting of art by the Nazis in their works. From the very first time I saw anything about it, the film The Train starring Burt Lancaster, to the more recent Woman in Gold with Helen Mirren, I have been drawn to these stories. I definitely want to read this book and probably will read the Zelda Richardson books that came before.
    The summer my father had become engaged to my step-mother, went to Europe together. My soon to be step-sister (she was 19 and I was almost 21) and I were given train tickets to travel around from Switzerland to Italy and basically stay out of our soon to be married parents' hair for a few days. We had plenty of adventures, some I remember like yesterday. Funny how that is.
    A few years later, with my summers off, my art teacher friend and I did Europe on $5 a day with Eurail passes, staying in pensionnes. We visited about 10 European countries, traveling from one to the other, mostly by night. It was quite an amazing opportunity to see so many places and so much scenery in 5 short weeks.
    More recently, my husband and I have taken two memorable train rides. The first, about 10 years ago, from Anchorage, Alaska to Denali National Park in one of those train cars with huge windows that allow you to see the mountains and the sky. Their dining car was reminiscent of the European dining cars in old movies. The other trip was on ScotRail from Edinburgh to Inverness and then back last summer. Much less elegant, but it did take us where we needed to go.

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    1. Oh, Judy! Amazing! SO many things, now, that I had put off, but now am determined to do! xx

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    2. Those are wonderful travel memories, Judy! It is so strange how some moments - decades later - are still so fresh in our minds. Denali must have been incredible! Your post is making me want to pull out maps and plan...

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  22. Oooh...train travel is definitely on my bucket list! So far all we've managed is a short hop from Windsor to Toronto and back on our tenth anniversary (too many years ago...).

    As for Vermeer...have you seen the documentary "Tim's Vermeer"? It's fascinating!

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    1. No, I haven't but I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the tip! And happy travels to you - when it's safe to do so again!

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  23. I'm very excited to read THE VERMEER DECEPTION because I lived in Bavaria as a child! My father was stationed in Stuttgart for 3 1/2 years, and we traveled to all the places Jennifer mentioned in her post. It is a gorgeous area, with dramatic scenery and a deep connection to its medieval and early modern history.

    I've never taken the Bergbahn in any of my visits to Heidelberg, but I did take the most extraordinary funicular railroad in the US - the one that takes visitors to the top of Pikes Peak. It was a combination of charming and alarming - the cute little train, the amazing landscapes seen close up, and the vertiginous feeling of going up (and down!!) at an angle that just feels wrong. I highly commend the experience if anyone has the chance.

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    1. Your mention of the Pikes Peak funicular railroad, Julia, reminds me that I did take the funicular railway at Niagara Falls and see some great views of the falls.

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    2. Julia, was German your first language or did you speak English in the US before your family moved to Germany?

      Diana

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    3. You're so right, Julia, the angle does feel so wrong, but the views are spectacular! Pikes Peak sounds incredible.
      What a wonderful experience to have grown up in Bavaria! It's quite a dramatic and fascinating region to travel through - exactly for the reasons you've listed. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. I love trains and boats. Wish I could always travel that way.

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    1. Such fun! (well, not so much cruise ships....:-) )

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    2. They are indeed fabulous ways to travel, Kathy! (Except for cruise ships - I'm with Hank on that one!)

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  25. Hi Jennifer! I just pre-ordered your book! I love art mysteries, and history, and trains, and Europe, so you've checked all the boxes! I have been to Stuttgart (on a German book tour) but not, sadly, Bavaria. I think I'll be adding Heidelberg to my bucket list.

    I've done quite a bit of train travel, including Amtrack from Dallas to LA to San Francisco and back, Amtrack from Dallas to Chicago, Chicago to Toronto. Lots of trains over the years in the UK and Europe, but not the Orient Express--another bucket list item!

    London to Inverness is particularly lovely if you ever get the chance. As you go through Perthshire you can imagine you're in a Harry Potter book. One of my most memorable train trips was from Hanover, Germany, through Brussels, then the Eurostar to London. It was on the same German book tour. I was in Hanover when the Icelandic volcano blew up. All flights were canceled but my German publisher managed to get me the last seat on the train to Brussels, where I had to run like mad, with luggage, for the Eurostar connection. There were no tickets available for weeks after that, so I was so lucky I made my train!

    I've done London-Paris on the Eurostar several times. You just imagine the Chunnel as a long tunnel and it's not so bad. I highly recommend splurging on a first class ticket. They serve you decent food and champagne and you really feel like you're having an adventure. Economy on the Eurostar is just like economy on a airplane. Ugh. One of the best things about the Eurostar is that trains go out of St. Pancras Station in London, one of my favorite places anywhere.

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    1. Wow, you're adventures are inspiring!! I love that you're publisher was able to keep you on schedule thanks to the train - and in the nick of time! That volcano cancelled our honeymoon plans, as well! (We ended up driving around Normandy instead of lying on a sunny beach. Might have been the better choice, in the end. Normandy is incredible!) If I ever travel Eurostar, I'll definitely go first class - that's sounds quite delightful!

      Thanks so much for preordering my mystery - I do hope you enjoy it!

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  26. I love this, Jennifer!!! There is a solid five year stretch of our family history that was devoted to the Hooligans', particularly H1's love of trains. Polar Express. Check. Grand Canyon Railroad. Check. Connecticut Valley Train. Check. Amtrak from Boston to New Haven. Check. Well, you get the idea. I am ecstatic to "go" to Bavaria with you and can not wait to revisit my love of trains, art, and history, as well. Pre-ordering right now!

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    1. Oh, so fun! Aww...adorable. And lovely memories.

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    2. That's fabulous, Jenn! What incredible you've shared as a family. You've inspired me to add a few more to our list. Thanks so much for your interest in my mystery and for preordering it! I hope you enjoy the read and trip :)

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  27. Jennifer, I loved this, both the role your son played - hey, we get our inspiration wherever we can find it!- and the trains. I loved traveling by train and one of my unfulfilled- so far - travel dreams is to take the transCanada train from, I believe, Toronto to Vancouver. Over the Rockies.I did go by train from NY to Williamsburg VA on a solo trip.Lovely. And I rode the NY-Boston route many times. Some of it is along the Atlantic coast, very scenic and I have seen water birds in marshlands.Also, a few TGV trains in France - fast, clean, a joy, though, sad to say, available food about the same quality as US trains.Anyway, looking forward to reading the book -sounds like the next best thing to real travel

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    1. Yes--and the next best thing will have to do! Hope you are well, dear Triss..

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    2. It is funny how inspiration works sometimes. I think I'll have to let my son help plan my next research trip, as well! It sounds like you've had many wonderful train rides. It so nice to be able to let someone else drive and just be able to enjoy the views! I hope you enjoy traveling by book for now - whatever you choose to read. Take care!

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  28. Jennifer, Wow, what a great story. Your son should get the Heidelberg credit I think. Plus it's a great story when you are out marketing, or marketing over Zoom which seems to be the thing right now. Oh, trains; so many stories going way back into my childhood during the second World War. There was no petrol (gas) for cars, unless one was in a special category, as gas had to be exported. My mother told a tale of travelling from London to Cardiff for my fathers' new wartime position. He was an officer in the Border Regiment. I was very little and one of the senior officers traveling in the same compartment as my parents and me, took a fancy to me. He was holding baby me, and I was teething on one of his shiny brass buttons. My poor father with handkerchief in hand, kept trying to mop me off the officers jacket, while apologizing for his daughter's gauche behavior. "Oh, I do apologise, I am so sorry sir", etc. apparently for most of the journey. A couple of summers ago, my husband and I finally rode the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington in NH. We had been promising ourselves this trip ever since we moved to Maine, and it was worth every minute. The views from the top of Mount Washington were spectacular. Husband actually climbed the last few steps to the summit receiving lots of applause from the kids there when he told them he was 90!
    I used to return by train to boarding school in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the 1950's. This was an eight hour journey up into the hills to Nuwara Eliya where the climate was considered more suitable for children. I loved the return trip to Colombo. As we got closer to the coastal plain, the temperature rose hotter and hotter. My parents would be waiting at the train station in Colombo. Even though we still had a two hour car journey home, we would drive to the Club, a stately colonial building with a restaurant and a beautiful swimming pool. I was allowed to swim and cool off before the next leg of my journey home.
    Looking back over my train travel years. I did travel over much of England. Kent; my next boarding school and family homes. Trains to Cornwall, another home. Trains to Scotland, and finally to the USA.
    Husband and I took the Canadian train from Winnipeg to Vancouver when we were first married. Our plan was to drive down the Pacific Coast and fly back to NYC from San Fran. But events showed me as pregnant and my Dr. vetoed the car travel. But I did go through the Rockies and it was a spectacular ride. I
    'm so glad Jennifer, that you took the chance on your German holiday. As you say, no vacations for us this year. But to live in Maine is a vacation in itself.

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    1. NOw that is what I call ADVENTURE! SO gorgeously exotic.

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    2. Oh my, what an incredible life you've led! It's wonderful to have so many amazing adventures to reflect on, especially during these unprecedented times. Have you thought of writing your memories down in book form? (My apologies if you've already published a memoir!) Thank you so much for sharing these. You're a true inspiration. I hope you and your husband can soon go on many more adventures. And Maine does look gorgeous. Take care of yourself!

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  29. I love trains too! This includes trains in Scotland and England and the Eurostar to Paris. Here, New York to Washington D.C. An amazing trip on the California Zephyr from Chicago to Sacramento, through multiple tunnels blasted out of the Sierra Nevada. The Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle in a sleeper car shared with my parents, just like an I Love Lucy episode as we manoeuvred in and out of the berths. My favorite is LA to San Diego along the glorious California coast.

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    1. Ooh, driving the California coast was magical but intense; the train sounds like the perfect way to go! Thanks for sharing your travels with us, Charlotte!

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  30. Writing comment first then going to read the brilliantness everyone else wrote. Adventures on trains. Okay, I've been on the Pacific Starlight from Seattle to Oakland. At one time I had a goal of trying all modes of transportation and I hadn't been in a train yet. Nice train, beautiful views during the day but freezing cold overnight even though it summer. I had no idea I was supposed to bring my own blanket if I was going be in "cheap" sit up all night seats. Other than that, it was nice. NOW my sister took the same route a year or two before me and there was a death on the train. Everything came to a halt at the next town to remove the body and take of things that needed to be taken care of. This was back in the dark ages before cell phones....dad and I are waiting and waiting in Oakland with no idea what was happening. I think there was finally an announcement about an hour past arrival time and we still had more time to wait. My mother was terrified of heights. She faces the interior wall in glass elevators so you can just imagine what she went through riding those picturesque trains climbing the mountains in Europe.

    Art theft, missing art, death, and you are living in the Netherlands. Adding you to my list, Jennifer. Sounds like you son needs to be the vacation planner.

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    1. Wow, I also would not have thought to bring my own blanket! And what a crazy experience to have a death on the train! I'd never thought about what would happen afterwards, to the rest of the passengers.
      Thank you, Deana! And you're right - my son deserves to be the planner. Who knows what incredible adventures he'll lead us on next :) Take care!

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  31. Jennifer, I can't believe I missed Jungle Reds yesterday (I'm usually one of the first commenters). I love how your son picked the location for those scenes.

    Ah, trains. I used to be much more of an international traveler and did much of it alone. I traveled around Japan a lot on their excellent trains. When my older son was a baby, we lived in Grenoble, where there is a funicular built into the side of the mountain. I would sometimes take it up, with him in a backpack, and then walk down. I've never taken the train in my native California, oddly enough, but have ridden it from Boston down to Malice and back a number of times.

    I'm sorry I've missed your books until now - will remedy that!

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    1. Thank you, Edith! I'm envious of your travels through Japan. It's high up on my bucket list. It's an incredible fascinating culture and the countrysides look magical.
      What a great idea to take the funicular up and walk down! I'll have to add Grenoble to our travel list, as well. I hope you stay healthy and sane during these crazy times!

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